lasagna

Homemade Lasagna

This is my mom's special homemade lasagna recipe with a meaty, made-from-scratch tomato sauce and a deliciously cheesy filling. A more traditional homemade lasagna filling would be made with ricotta but my mom's recipe calls for a blend of small-curd cottage cheese and Parmesan. I have found none better anywhere. Serve with a leafy green salad and crusty garlic bread.

3 hrs 15 mins

2 hrs 30 mins

Servings:12

Ingredients

1 pound sweet Italian sausage
¾ pound lean ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
2 cans (6.5 ounces) canned tomato sauce
2 cans (6 ounces) tomato paste
½ cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
4 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, divided
1 ½ teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or to taste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
¾ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Step 1

Gather all your ingredients.

Step 2

Cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic in a Dutch oven over medium heat.

Step 3

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Season with sugar, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, 1 teaspoon salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Step 4

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water.

Step 5

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining 2 tablespoons parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C)..

Step 7

To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Step 8

Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes.

Step 10

Rest lasagna for 15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories 448

Fat 21g

Carbs 37g

Protein 30g